St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-10-08

Between the quarters anu 'ho
The old negro of the plantations is
TYNE of character that is fast passing
away True, the negro Of to-day inherits
many of the characteristics of his fore
fathers. but some of the distinguishing
peculiarities are absent. Even when we
meet one of the old men, the chances are
that the friction of the new order OF
things has worn away the habits anc adj
dress he brought from the quarter. lie
NAV vet be found in the South, and occa-
sionally in the large cities of the Middle
States, doing in the sun on dray OF
wkarf, and when he is aroused perhaps
wih say with broad, genial smile, How
do, NASSAU" but we see less of him every
year.
There has been vast deal written,
spokeJA and thought on the topic OF
slavery; and much i'll feeling resulting
therefrom, until it helped to generate
bloody war, and much of this acrimoni-
GUS discussion arose from an ignorance
of the subject at issue. l am South
erner in sympathies and prejudices. l
was born to his habits and opinions, and
know I possess many of his faults, and l
hope a few of his virtues. Still | have
always been able to look at this subject
in a calm way | am glad slavery is
abolished. My gladness is not based
ON sentiment, nor on high moral
ground. l look at it in that manner
termed by Americans "a business way"
/ believe emancipation has been bene-
fetal to the Southern whites. 1t has re-
leved them of the care of many value
less dependents, and enabled them to
manage their affairs, if not so easily, at
least in a clearer and more business-like
manner. believe the negro, while not as
happy, generally speaking, is also bene-
fitted; the childish disregard of the future
is now incompatible with his position;
he must take care Of his family himself,
and as necessity has ever been the forcing
house of manliness and industry, thus he
bids fair to occupy . higher plane.
The time-ravelcd cry that the slave
was unhappy is an exaggerated view
taken by really excellent people, who,
never having been on plantation or
mingled with slaves, drew a mental pic
ture coinciding with their adherence of
the bondage of mankind. Hence they
picture the slave pining prisoner, ever
wistfully gazing toward the North, where
freedom was to be found, while the air is
filled with the clank of letters, the crack
of the whip and the wall of agony. In
reality the slave, when well treated and
fed, was, in my conception, the hap
piest creature that trod the earth.
Of course the overworked, beaten
and half-starved negro was unhappy,
and such conditions did exist to
degree, for not every man can rightly
and humanely use supreme power over
his fellow, but 1 will boldly state my
opinion that the day the negro left the
boundaries of the plantation where
humane and indulgent "massa" ruled,
that day he left behind him the happiest
days his race will ever experience. True,
it was not the happiness that man ought
to derive from correct and intelligent
use of the days vouchsafed him; it was
rather the happiness that arises frQp the
thoughtlessness Of mere animal. Of
all the inhabitants of the earth none
more literally followed the Scriptural be-
hest, "Take no thought Of the morrow"
When the days work was over and the
negro had Toasted on 'possum and
hominy he went to bed as utterly oblivi.
GUS of what bad fortune the future might |
have in store for him as if he had a
guarantee of perpetual felicity.
In his condition white man would |
have worried himself into the grave.
Even if he had become callous to his
thralldom, thought of the insecurity of |
his position would have caused many an
anxious moment. Death or changes of |
fortune might render it necessary at any
moment to sell off the negroes; then every
tie, every affection for animate or mani
mate things is likely to be rudely broken
and the slave pass from the plantation
where he had been happy to the uncer-
tam mercies of new master. Could a
white man ever be happy with such a
possible event hanging over him? The
negro never gave it thought. No fear
of coming evil dimmed the rays of the
rising sun as he started for the field in
the morning. No apprehension of mis-
fortune made the night any gloomier
when he returned. Such placidity of
mind did not arise from sublime faith
it was the absence of the slightest desire
to peer into the mists of the future and
pure animal enjoyment Of the present
The mode Of life on plantation
where the proprietor was humane con-
tributed much to conceal the letters of
seEvitude. The slave held a curious
position; he was serf and obliged to 90
and come at command, and yet he was
treated almost as peer. The familiarity
that existed between the quarter and the
mansion would surprise a Northerner.
Some time after the war I prevailed on
young Northern housekeeper to engage
an old colored woman who came from
my part of the country. I knew she
was a good cock and an excellent SER